The Charlotte Hornets made a decisive roster adjustment during their 97-89 defeat against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, benching forward Naz Reid for the second half. Coach Charles Lee explained after the game that the decision was made because Reid did not meet the team's standards during the opening period. Reid, who started the contest, finished with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting in just 13 minutes of action.
Lee acknowledged the disappointment but expressed confidence in the player's future contributions. "Unfortunately, [Reid] didn't meet our standards in the first half, and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn't play in the second half," Lee stated. He added that he looks forward to Reid meeting those expectations in the next game.
Despite Reid's absence in the second half, Charlotte built a 51-44 lead by halftime, largely thanks to Brandon Miller, who scored 21 points before the break. Miller finished with a team-high 31 points and 12 rebounds, though he struggled late, missing five of his seven shots in the fourth quarter. The Hornets held an advantage in second-chance points, going 6-0 in that category, which helped them maintain their early lead.
However, Detroit seized control starting the third quarter with a 16-5 run and forced eight turnovers to take a 76-70 lead. Although Charlotte remained competitive for much of the final period, Miller's shooting slump and five additional turnovers prevented the Hornets from mounting a serious comeback.
Reid is a central figure in the recent trade that sent LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In exchange for Ball, Charlotte acquired Reid, an unprotected first-round pick in 2033, three second-round picks (2029, 2032, and 2033), and first-round pick swaps for 2028, 2029, and 2030. The 26-year-old forward is currently in the second year of a five-year, $125 million contract with Minnesota and was named the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year.
Sources: ESPN NBA.